Water-tube boiler.



No. 657,6lfi. Patented Sept. ll, I900.

J PLATT WATER TUBE BOILER. (Appl c nfil d Fb 2a 1899 2 SheetsSheet I.

(No ldodgl No. 652,616. Patented Sept. ll, I900; J. PLATT.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1899.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PLATT, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

WATER-TU BE BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 657,616. dated September 11, 1900. Application filed February 23, 1899. Serial No. 706,4;70. (No model..

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN PLATT, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Westfield, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin VVater-Tube Boilers, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improve- 'ments in water-tube steam-boilers.

It is desirable in boilers of the water-tube type in which the tubes discharge into steam separating chambers or drums to reduce the number of drums, and consequently the num ber of water-levels to be watched by the engineer, as, in spite of the fact that the drums are connected in order to keep the waterlevel the same in all the drums, it may happen that the water will be exhausted from some of the drums and that part of the boiler will burn out while there is sufficient water in the other drums. It is also of advantage in this type of boilers to divide the gratespace as much as possible, especially in boilers which are to be worked for any considerable period of time, as small grates are much more easily continuously worked than larger ones.

It is the object of this invention to produce a boiler in which there shall be but a single water-level and in which the grate-space shall be divided into a series of grates and at the same time to so arrange the water tubes which connect the water-drums located alongside the grates with the steamseparating means that they shall be exposed to the full effect of the hot gases arising from the fires.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain parts, improvements, and combinations, as will be hereinafter described, and then fully pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters indicate the same parts, and which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents diagrammatically, in sec* tional elevations, a boiler constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical central section of the boiler shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 illustrates a modified arrangement of the tubes.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one form of boiler embodying the invention, 1, 2, and 3 indicate grates, a boiler having a series of three grates having been selected to illustrate the invention. It is to be understood, however, that more than three grates may be used, if desired. Water-drums t and 5 are shown as located at the outer edges of the outer grates, and water-drums 6 and 7 are shown as located between the grates 1 and 2 and 2 and 3, respectively. It will be understood, of course, that if more than three grates are used in the series the number of waterdrums will be correspondingly increased.

Located above the grates is the steam-separating means, which consists in the present boiler of a steam-drum 8, provided with any usual form of baffle-plate 9. The water-drums 4 and 5 are connected to the steam-drum 8 by series of tubes 10 and 11, these tubes being preferably, though not necessarily, bent tubes. The water-drums 6 and '7 are connected to the steam-drum 8 by series of tubes 12 and 13, these tubes also being preferably, though not necessarily, bent tubes. The hot gases and other products of combustion rise from the fires in the several grates and pass among and between the tubes constituting the several groups. The tubes in each group may be variously arranged to insure the effective contact of the gases therewith. The tubes in the several groups may also be caused to enter the steam-dru m at any convenient point. In the form of the con struction shown in Fig. 1 all the tubes are shown as entering the steam-drum above the normal water-level thereof, while in the modifieation shown in Fig. 3 part of the tubes are shown as entering the steam-drum above and part below the normal water-level. It is to be understood, however, that the tubes may be caused to enter the drum either all above or all below the normal water-level or partly above and partly below, as deemed expedient or desirable.

In the forms of construction shown in the drawings, the outer tubes of the groups 10 are arranged to form a close wall, which extends from the water-drum to a point some little distance from the steam-drum, and from that point onward to the point of juncture with the steam-drum the tubes are arranged to form spaces 14, through which the products escape and pass into the uptake 15, said uptake being connected to the usual casing 16 in which the grates and tubes are located.

The inner tubes of the groups 10 and 11 are arranged to form spaces 17 near their point of junction with the water-dru m. These spaces extend some little distance from the waterdrum, and from the point where they end onward to the point where the tubes join the tubes of the group 12 they are arranged to form a close wall. The remainder of the tubes of the groups 10 and 11 are arranged between these walls, and all the tubes of these two groups are preferably spaced apart for some little distance back from the steamdrum to allow of the free passage of the products between them, the products escaping, as before stated, through the openings 14, formed by the outer tubes of the groups.

The tubes of the groups 12 and 13 which are nearest the grates 1 and 3 are preferably arranged to form spaces 18 at their lower ends and are also spaced apart at their upper ends in order to allow the products of combustion to pass between them. The tubes of the groups l2'and 13 which are nearest the grate 2 may be variously shaped. In the form of construction shown in Fig. 1 they are long tubes, bowed, as shown, to form the walls of thecombustion-chamber of the grate 2, and after being bowed are bent back and carried upward into the steam-drum. In the form shown in Fig. 3 shorter tubes are used. It is to be understood, however, that any suitable configuration may be given these tubes.

The tubes of the groups 12 and 13 which are nearest the grate, 2 are preferably arranged so as to form spaces 19 near the waterdrums and are then carried upward in a close wall, the said wall preferably extending up to the steam-drum.

In these constructions the hot gases arising from the grate 2 are divided and after passing into the flue-space formed by the walls before described pass, together with part of the gases from the grates 1 and 3, on upward, meeting the rest of the gases, which are carried up through the groups 10 and 11, and passing with them out of the openings 14. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the arrangement of tubes which has just been described. Furthermore, the walls need not necessarily be of the description shown and described. Thus, forinstance, the outer and inner tubes of the groups 10 and 11, instead of being spaced apart, as shown, near the steam-drum, may be arranged to form walls which extend clear up to the drum. In this case these walls would form chambers or passages, which would extend longitudinally of the steam-drum, and the products might be taken out from these passages at either or both ends thereof. So, also, the tubes of the groups 12 and 13, which are nearest the grate 2, instead of being arranged to form walls which extend clear to the steam-drum might, if desired, be arranged to form spaces near the drum, in which case the products would be allowed to pass beneath the drum and along it to be taken out at either or both ends, as desired. Various other modifications are possible and need not be recited here.

The steam from the steaindrum is taken off through a suitably arranged pipe 20, which may be of any form capable of performing this function. The steam-drum may also be connected with any of the several water-drums by any desired arrangement of downtakes. In the form shown the steamdrum is shown as directly connected to the water-drums 6 and 7 by downtakes 21, and the drums 6 and 7 are connected to the drums 4 and 5 by cross-pipes 22. WVhile this is a convenient form of connection, any other desired form may be substituted therefor. It is also to be understood that while it is preferred to form the walls which have been before referred to entirely of tubes arranged closely together, yet the walls need not be so formed. They may consist, if desired, partly of tubes and partly of a suitable material, such as fire brick or asbestos. The material which is used in connection with the tubes to form the wall may be either arranged between the tuhes or sheets of material may be arranged inside or outside the rows of tubes which form the walls.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular form of apparatus shown and described, but. that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it is to be understood, therefore, that the invention includes all such changes and modifications as fall within its spirit and scope.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with three grates, of four water-drums, two of the drums being arranged at the outer edges of the grates and two of the drums between adjacent grates, a steam-drum, and four groups of bent tubes connecting the steam-drum and the'waterdrums, substantially as described.

2. The combination with three grates, of four water-drums, two of the drums being arranged at the outer edges of the grates and two of the drums being arranged between adjacent grates, a steam-dru m, a group of tubes connecting each of the outer water-drums with the steam-drum, a group of tubes connecting each of the inner water-drums with the stealn-dru1n, a part of the tubes of each group being arranged in flues or passages, and the remainder of the tubes of each group being arranged in the walls of said lines or passages, and means for-admitting the products of combustion to the flues or passages, substantially as described.

3. In a steam-boiler the combination with three grates, of four water-drums, two of the drums being arranged at the outer edges of the outer grates and two of the drums between adjoining grates, a steam drum, a group of tubes connecting each of the outer water-dru ms with the steam-drum, the outer tubes of each group being arranged to form a close wall from the water-drum to a point adjacent the steam-drum, and being spaced apart from there on to form openings for the egress of the products, a group of tubes connecting each of the inner water-drums with the steam-drums, some of the tubes of each of these groups being arranged for a portion of their length to form close walls and being spaced apart for the remainder of their length, and some of the tubes of these groups being arranged in fiues formed by these walls, substantially as described.

I. In a steam-boiler the combination with three grates, of four water-drums, two of the drums being arranged at the outer edges of the outer grates and two of the drums between adjoining grates, a steam-drum, a group of bent tubes connecting each of the outer water-drums with the steam-drum, the outer tubes of each group being arranged to form a close wall from the water-drum to a point adjacent the steam-drum and being spaced apart from there on to form openings for the egress of the products, a group of bent tubes connecting each of the inner water-dru ms with the steain-drum, some of the tubes of each of these groups being arranged for a portion of their length to form close walls and being spaced apart for the remainder of their length, and some of the tubes of these groups being arranged in flues formed by these walls, substantially as described.

5. In a steam-boiler, the combination with three grates, of four water-drums, two of the drums being arranged at the outer edges of the grates and two of the drums between adjoining grates, a steam-drum, two outergroups of tubes connecting the outer water-drums with the steam-drum, two inner groups of tubes connecting the inner water-drums with the steanrdrum, the outer tubes of the outer groups being arranged to form close walls from the water-drum to a point adjacent the steam -drum and being spaced apart from there onward to the point of junction with the steam-drum to form openings for the egress of the products, the inner tubes of the outer groups being spaced apart at their ends and arranged to form a close wall intermediate thei r ends, the tubes of the inner groups which are next the inner grate being arranged to form close walls except for a portion of their length near the water-drum, the tubes of the inner group next the outer grates being arranged to form close walls intermediate their ends and spaced apart at their ends, and the tubes of each group which are not arranged in the walls standing in the flues formed by the walls, substantially as described.

6. In a steam-boiler, the combination with three grates, of four water-drums, two of the drums being arranged at the outer edges of the grates and two of the drums between adjoining grates,a stean1drum,two outer groups of bent tubes connecting the outer waterdrum with the steam-drum, two inner groups of bent tubes connecting the inner waterdrum with the steam-drum, the outer tubes of the outer groups being arranged to form close walls from the Water-drum to a point adjacent the steam-drum and being spaced apart from there onward to the point of junction with the steam-drum to form openings for the egress of the products, the inner tubes of the outer groups being spaced apart at their ends and arranged to form a close wall intermediate their ends, the tubes of the inner groups which are next the inner grate being arranged to form close walls except for a portion of their length near the water-drum, the tubes of the inner groups next the outer grates being arranged to form close walls in.- termediate their ends and spaced apart at their ends, and the tubes of each group which are not arranged in the walls standing in the fiues formed by the walls, substantially as described.

7. The combination with three grates, of four water drums, two of which are arranged at the outer edges of the outer grates and two of which are arranged between adjoining grates, a steam-drum, groups of tubes connecting the outer drums with the steamdrum, part of the tubes of each group being arranged to form outer and inner walls and the remaining tubes of each group being arranged between the walls, groups of tubes connecting the inner drums with the steamdrum, the tubes of each group which are nearest the grates being arranged to form close walls for a part of their length and the remaining tubes of each group being arranged between these walls, substantially as described.

8. The combination with three grates, of four water-drums, two of which are arranged at the outer edges of the outer grates and two of which are arranged between adjoining grates, a steam-drum, groups of bent tubes connecting the outer drums with the steamdrum, part of the tubes of each group being arranged to form outer and inner walls and the remaining tubes of each group being arranged between the walls, groups of bent tubes connecting the inner drums with the steam-drum, the tubes of each group which are nearest the grates being arranged to form close walls for a part of their length and the remaining tubes of each group being arranged between these walls, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN PLATT. Witnesses:

A. V. BOURKE, T. F. KEHOE. 

